We all have an emotional limit. A point where we can’t handle any more in a healthy manner. No matter how healthy you become mentally, there is still only so much you can handle at one point. It becomes important to recognize when that is the case. If you end up overdoing, it every day then you will find that you unable to become a mentally healthy person. Your mental health is a huge part of your overall wellness. We all may have our physical goals about strength and weight loss or what not. However, obtaining any of our wellness goals requires mental strength and fortitude. So, it’s important to put as much effort into our mental and emotional health as our physical. One of my favorite analogies when it comes to our emotional state is a cup of water… or whatever liquid you most fancy.
What Empties Your Cup
There is so many things that go on in a day that take from our emotional cup. Things like dealing with kids, our jobs, and everything else that goes on in a day. Sometimes there are just days that everything seems to go wrong. It’s not one little thing that ruins the whole day but all these little moments that all take a little bit out of our emotional cup throughout the day until our cup is completely empty. Or it could be one big thing that takes empties your cup all in one go and you just have nothing left to handle the rest of the day. Learn to recognize the things that empty your cup. Think about it and write the things down that you know will empty your cup
Know Your Cup is Empty
It’s important to recognize when your cup is low or running dry. There have been times that I knew my cup was running low. I was planning on meeting with some people that I knew expended my emotional cup. I didn’t use my better judgement and I went anyway. Then I was surprised that I was emotionally a wreck and had no patience for my family at the end of the day. Learning to recognize your cup is empty or almost empty is key to making it through those rough days. In those moments you do what you can to minimize emptying that cup anymore. Whether that means you leave your to do list until the next day, or forgoing plans with people that may expend your emotional cup.
Choose When to Expend Your Cup
There are certain situations that we can’t avoid all the time that do expend that cup. If you have parents or in-laws that take a lot of energy and fortitude to be around. You may not be able to completely avoid people that are so closely connected to you. However, you can plan for those encounters. If you have a holiday or family get together that you know is coming up, then take care of yourself before and after. Don’t plan any emotionally taxing errands or situations to overlap those days (or weeks, if need be). Try to have a relaxing day, that you can fill your cup rather than empty it. This way you have the tools that you need to be able to make it through the day.
Find What Fills Your Cup
We may not be able to avoid all people who empty our cup. However, we can choose to surround ourselves with people who fill our cup rather than take from it. The people that make you feel refreshed and happy after being around them. Those are the kind of people that you need to have around you. It’s not just people that can fill your cup but activities. If there is a hobby or activity that fills your cup, then make that a regular part of your life.
What things fill empty or fill your cup? How do you get through those rough days?
Mel's Health and Fitness 